MARGARET ELIZABETH NELSON of Green Valley,

passed away on Oct. 26, 2008, at the age of 95.

She was born on July 16, 1913, in Minneapolis, Minn., the third of four children born to Swedish immigrant parents Oscar Filip and Syster Helga Mardell. The family moved back to Sweden for a short time, but returned to the U.S. for good in 1922, with the children having to learn English once again.

Margaret graduated from Washburn High School in 1932. She had participated in many sports such as field hockey, softball and tennis. She also showed interest and skill for the arts, attending classes at the Commercial Art Academy, Minneapolis Art Institute and the University of Minnesota. She also worked as a buyer for Dayton’s, a predecessor of the Target Corp.

Margaret married Cecil M. Nelson, also of Minneapolis (Roosevelt HS) in 1938, and proceeded to raise their family in south Minneapolis. They truly enjoyed planning many and frequent family get-togethers, providing good times and happy memories for all. One of the focal points was Minnehaha Falls Park.

They relocated to Green Valley upon Cecil’s retirement from 3M Co. in 1976. The couple enjoyed golf and other social activities with neighbors and visiting out-of-state family members and friends, a time she called “the golden years.” She renewed her artistic pursuits involving ceramics, woodworking, fabric crafts, painting and decoupage. Other highlights of Margaret’s retirement years included her two trips to Scandinavia with her husband and children to visit her Swedish cousins, as well as sightseeing in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

Margaret is survived by her children, Bobbi (John) Stauffer, Nick (Cindy) Nelson and Margo (Denny) Springer; as well as grandchildren Dean (Mary) Stauffer, Wendi Barrett, Dawn (Curt) Sammer, Adam Springer, Leah (Matt) Pawlowski, plus two great-grandchildren Thor and Anders.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Cecil; sisters Mary (Chet Magnuson-deceased 1957) and (Martin Anderson-deceased 1973); Anna (Thorild) Jacobson; and brother Okie (Maddie) Mardell.

Her memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct, 31 at Green Valley Mortuary